(ATLANTA, GA, 11/28/16) – The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-GA) today announced that it plans to visit Savannah and engage in interfaith outreach in response to a hate-filled letter mailed to the Islamic Center of Savannah. The anonymous letter, copies of which were also mailed to three mosques in California (See media reports below.), referred to Muslims as “Children of Satan” and a “vile and filthy people.” The letter also warned Muslims to “pack your bags and get out of dodge” because President-elect Donald Trump is “going to cleanse America and it make it shine again. And, he’s going to start with you Muslims. He’s going to do to you Muslims what Hitler did to the Jews.”
“Although anti-Muslim bigotry has surged since Election Day, our community fears God, not anonymous hate mail,” said Edward Ahmed Mitchell, executive director of CAIR-GA. “Whoever sent these letters should know that they have only strengthened our resolve to keep practicing our faith, defending our rights and building bridges with our neighbors.”
CAIR-GA plans to host an interfaith open house in Savannah sometime in January 2017. During the open house, Georgia Muslims plan to meet and greet their neighbors, deliver an Islam 101 presentation and hold a Q&A session.
CAIR’s national office has noted a spike in incidents targeting American Muslims and other minority groups since the November 8 presidential election. More than 100 anti-Muslim incidents have occurred across the country according to CAIR and more than 700 incidents targeting different minority groups have been documented by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The Washington-based Muslim civil rights organization recently said that newly-released FBI hate crime statistics showing a 67 percent jump in anti-Muslim incidents in 2015 should push the nation’s leaders to repudiate growing Islamophobia.
SEE: CAIR Says FBI Report of Sharp Jump in Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes Should Push Nation’s Leaders to Reject Islamophobia
CAIR is urging American Muslims and Islamic institutions to take extra security precautions and is offering Muslim community leaders free copies of its booklet, “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety.” The booklet may be requested through CAIR’s website: http://www.cair.com/mosque-safety-guide.html
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www.cair.com
Mosque Safety Guide. Distribution of Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety is limited to mosque officials, school administrators and other faith and …
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The Washington-based Muslim civil rights group is asking Muslim community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR’s Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: www.cair.com/report
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
CONTACT: CAIR-GA Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell; 404-285-9530; [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]